Introducing Chicago's new City Council

Though first appointed by Daley, Munoz is viewed as one of the more independent members. Fended off two challengers supported by the Hispanic Democratic Organization.

FT

Ph: 312-744-9491

23RD WARD

FOR THE RECORD - This story contains corrected material.The published story misstated the year Ald. Edward Burke (14th) became a member of the Chicago City Council. Burke was first elected to office in 1969.

Michael Zalewski

Age: 46

Elected: 1995

Former streets and sanitation deputy commissioner, he is a paid consultant to the 23rd Ward Regular Democratic Organization and heads Z Consulting Group Inc.

Ph: 312-744-6828

24TH WARD

Michael Chandler

Age: 50

Elected: 1995

Protege of West Side political activist Richard Barnett and a former supervisor of city building inspectors.

FT

Ph: 312-744-6839

25TH WARD

Daniel Solis

Age: 53

Appointed: 1996

Former community organization leader. Council president pro tempore and the member of the Hispanic caucus closest to Daley.

FT

Ph: 312-744-6845

26TH WARD

Billy Ocasio

Age: 42

Appointed: 1993

Aligned with U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.). Chairman of the Human Relations Committee.

FT

Ph: 312-744-6853

27TH WARD

Walter Burnett Jr.

Age: 39

Elected: 1995

Protege of Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. A solid Daley backer who nevertheless has challenged the mayor on the issue of affordable housing.

FT

Ph: 312-744-6124

28TH WARD

Ed Smith

Age: 67

Elected: 1983

Chairman of the Health Committee and a strong advocate of anti-smoking proposals, including a pending measure to ban tobacco in restaurants.

FT

Ph: 312-744-3066

29TH WARD

Isaac Carothers

Age: 48

Elected: 1999

Former deputy commissioner in Streets and Sanitation Department. Chairman of the Police and Fire Committee.

FT

Ph: 312-744-3070

30TH WARD

Ariel Reboyras

Age: 48

Elected: 2003

A top lieutenant of the Hispanic Democratic Organization, he had been a deputy commissioner in the city's General Services Department.

FT

Ph: 312-744-3304

31ST WARD

Regner "Ray" Suarez

Age: 56

Elected: 1991

First elected with the backing of veteran politicians Miguel Santiago and Joe Berrios. Previously was an official in the Streets and Sanitation Department.

FT

Ph: 312-744-6102

32ND WARD

Theodore Matlak

Age: 37

Appointed: 1998

Former county and city auditor. Former aide to onetime Ald. Terry Gabinski and former U.S. Rep. Dan Rostenkowski (D-Ill.), the ward's political chief.

FT

Ph: 312-744-6567

33RD WARD

Richard Mell

Age: 65

Elected: 1975

Father-in-law of Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Employed by family-owned spring company. Veteran of Council Wars era best known for standing on a desk at a raucous council session.

Ph: 312-744-6825

34TH WARD

Carrie Austin

Age: 53

Appointed: 1994

Took husband's council seat when he died. Former aide to onetime U.S. Rep. Mel Reynolds.

FT

Ph: 312-744-6820

35TH WARD

Rey Colon

Age: 41

Elected: 2003

Community activist and former YMCA executive, he has promised to bring a new independent voice to the council.

FT

Ph: 312-744-6835

36TH WARD

William J.P. Banks

Age: 53

Elected: 1983

Chairman of the council's powerful Zoning Committee. A lawyer who works as an independent contractor in the law offices of his brother.

Ph: 312-744-6857

37TH WARD

Emma Mitts

Age: 47

Appointed: 2000

Former coordinator of special projects in the Streets and Sanitation Department. Replaced disgraced Ald. Percy Giles and then defeated Giles' son in a special election

FT

Ph: 312-744-8019

38TH WARD

Thomas Allen

Age: 51

Appointed: 1993

Former aide to the late Ald. Thomas Cullerton, whom he replaced. Former Cook County public defender and a partner in a Loop law firm.

Ph: 312-744-6811

39TH WARD

Margaret Laurino

Age: 50

Appointed: 1994

Replaced her father, council dean Anthony Laurino, who resigned for health reasons. Once proposed creation of an independent panel to set pay for aldermen and top city officials. Nothing came of it.

FT

Ph: 312-744-7242

40TH WARD

Patrick O'Connor

Age: 48

Elected: 1983

Chairman of the Education Committee. Has own legal practice and also is in-house counsel for Foster Bank.

Ph: 312-744-6858

41ST WARD

Brian Doherty

Age: 45

Elected: 1991

The council's lone Republican, yet he usually is in agreement with Daley. Protege of the late state Rep. Roger McAuliffe.

FT

Ph: 312-744-3208

42nd WARD

Burton Natarus

Age: 69

Elected: 1971

Born attention-getter with a healthy ego. Both irritates and amuses colleagues in debates and meetings. Has own law practice.

Ph: 312-744-3062

43RD WARD

Vi Daley

Age: 60

Elected: 1999

Former aide to Ald. Charles Bernardini, whom she replaced when he retired. Despite her name, she is no relation to the mayor.

FT

Ph: 312-744-3071

44TH WARD

Thomas Tunney

Age: 47

Appointed: 2002

First openly gay council member. Owner of four Ann Sather restaurants, though plans to divest his interests to devote full time to council duties.

Ph: 312-744-3073

45TH WARD

Patrick Levar

Age: 52

Elected: 1987

Previously worked in the office of the clerk of the Cook County Circuit Court and ran unsuccess-fully for Circuit Court clerk in 2000.

FT

Ph: 312-744-6841

46TH WARD

Helen Shiller

Age: 55

Elected: 1987

A former community activist once viewed as a radical, Shiller has mellowed and made a peace of sorts with Daley after long being a staunch foe.

FT

Ph: 312-744-6831

47TH WARD

Eugene Schulter

Age: 55

Elected: 1975

Onetime protege of former park district chief Ed Kelly, Schulter had a rancorous falling out with his mentor. In February, he easily outpolled a challenger backed by Kelly.

FT

Ph: 312-744-3180

48TH WARD

Mary Ann Smith

Age: 56

Appointed: 1989

An environmentalist and strong believer in "traffic calming" in city neighborhoods, Smith serves as chairman of the Parks Committee.

FT

Ph: 312-744-6860

49TH WARD

Joe Moore

Age: 44

Elected: 1991

Former city lawyer considered one of the council's liberals. An attorney and protege of Cook County Clerk David Orr.

FT

Ph: 312-744-3067

50TH WARD

Bernard Stone

Age: 75

Elected: 1973

Oldest alderman. As vice mayor, he is a heartbeat away from the city's top job.